Capping-device valve for wells



Dec. 9, 1930. J.' w. HALL 1,784,007

CAPPING DVICE VALVE FOR WELLS Filed Jan. 2. 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet l J. w.HALL 1,784,007

GAPPING DEVICE VALVE FOR WELLS Fled Jan. 2, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec.9, 1930,

E rml r Dec. 9', 1930. J. w. HALL 1,784,007

CAPPING DEVICE VALVE EQR wELLs Patented Dec. 9, 1930 UNITED STATESPATENTol-"rlca JOHN w. HALL, or SANTA ANA, CALIFORNIA CAPfING-DEVIOEVALVE FOR WELLS Application `led January', 1929. Serial No. 329,899.

This invention relates Vto valves 'and parn vice heavy enough towithstand such presiv l sures Without being displaced or "otherwiserendered ineffective thereby, 1S an extremely ditlicult if not animpractical operation,`

especially as all operations must be controlled from a distance.VParticularly is this `true Le shouldthe `Well be afire.

It is a particular object of this invention to provide a valve forcapping such Wells which will be simple to construct and operate, 1f-7icient and sure in operation, andrelatively simple and inexpensive toconstruct vand maintain.

It is a further object to provide such a. de-

vice which may bepositioned over a Welllf clamped to the casing, orifthecasing is 3g damaged or inaccessible, may be Weighted down andcovered with Weights, concrete or other Weighting material, Withoutsubjecting any portion of thedevice to the stream of gas, oil, or theflame coming from the well,nand after it is made safe againstdisplacement, to be operated from a distance to close off the Well ordivert the flow to other channels controlling the flow by valvesincorporated in the device and associated therewith.

4c It another object of this invention to provide such a capping devicewhich maybeso positioned or removed, clamped or nnclamped, and closed orAopened .from any reasonable distance, Without danger to the f workman.

cleaning out of such i assembling means operable from a distance,V so.that upon operating such means the parts Will lcome together intheirproper' relation.

Another object is to provide a valve closure member which will besupported and guided upon but one portion of the bodyv but which inassembly will operate in conjunction with the other portion'oi' the bodyto effect complete closure of the openings therein.

With these and other objects in view as Will later be pointed out in thespecification and f finally in the claims, theinvent-ion consists in thestructure, correlation and combination of parts, members andvfeaturcs,but one em-l bodiment of which is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings and described in this specification.

Fig. 1 isa side elevationiof a cappingl device constructed in accordancewith my invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plank view of this device being' brought into positionto cap a well iny its extended condition.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged facevieivof one of the ratchet operated devicesfor closingthe capping device.

ated device.

of another portion i of the. body.

Fig. 4 is a rear view Vof theratchet oper- Fig.' 5 is aside elevation ofthe innerface of'one portion of the body.

Fig. e is Fig. 7 i

a side elevation of the inner face s a `section through the as sen'ibleddevice in closedv position taken on line Flg. 8 i

s a section taken on line 8, 8

of Fig. 5 showing the assembled device inr closed positlon.

Fig. 9 is a planfvieiv kshowing the device in p ositionfor closing overa Well. 1

Fig. .10 1s a plan View showing'the cas-Y ing of the Well gripped by forthe closing oif of the Well.

Itis also an object of this inventionto provide such a device whichmaybe: positioned in an expanded condition, as one unit, and in whichthevar1ous parts Will bey guided and centered, and to incorporatethereinsuitable.

the device ready Fig. 11 is a section on line 11, 11 of Fig. l.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary top plan of a por-V tion of thefratchetreversing mechanism.

Fig. `13 isa face View of the valve closure operatingmechanism. l

TheV devi ce is shown as comprising a body A composed of two relativelymovable portions B and C. A closure member D and closure operatingmechanism E are carried by the portion C. Clamping and assemblingmechanisms F are associated with each of the body portions at the oneend thereof, and clampingmechanisms G, somewhat sii-nilar to themechanisms F, at the other end thereof. A reversing ineclianisn'i H isprovided on each of the body portions to reverse the mechanisms F and G.Protecting means I and cooling means J associated therewith are providedon each of the body portions. Y

The body portion C is shown as having a base 20, end walls 21, asidewall 22 and a top 23. at 20o, to facilitate placement on rough ground. Asemicircular opening'24 is provided in the face of thel base near theforward portion thereof, immediately inside the end of the walladjacent. This opening is provided with a packing 24a for packing offthe pressure around the casing, and the side wall of this opening isadapted to grip the casing in conjunction with a similar construction onthe body portion B, and may be provided with wickers 245. Above theopening 24 in the top wall there is an opening 25, also semicircular,and preferably somewhat larger than the opening 24. The side wall 22 ofthe body portion Ct is formed with a slideway 26 utilizing thelongitudinal rib 27 as a support for the closure member D.

This closure member D comprises a plate 28, having a top face nished forclose fitting to the under side of the top On the lower face a rack 29is formed integral with it, and is in mesh with a pinion SO which formsa portion of the means E. The plate 98 is provided with a longitudinalgroove 31 iu its bottom face, and by means of a bracket 32 extendingfrom the side wall 2Q, and which has an extension 33 adapted for a closesliding lit in the groove 3l, the member C is guided and supported whenhe body is in extended position.Y

The body portion B likewise con'iprises a base 34 having sloped ends 34aand provided with end walls 35, side walls 36 and a top wall 37. Thebase is provided with a semicircular opening 88 similar to the openingQ4 and provided with packing 38o and wiel;- ers 385. and is adapted tocoordinate with opening 24 in surrounding the casing. A slideway 40aywith rib 40 guides member D in assembly. y

An opening 39 similar to the opening is provided in the top 87 above theopening 38. A groove 4l cut'iuto the exposed faces of the base 34. endwalls and Atop 37. is adapted to hold packing V42 and to receive atongue 48 formed on the mating faces of the body portion C. Anopeningcut transversely through the base below the The ends of the base aresloped, as

groove 4l receives and guides an elongated projection 45 on the bodjportion The assembling mechanisms F are best il lustrated in Figures l,3, 4, and 8 and consist of assembling screws 46 having threaded ends 47received in tapped holes 48 in the body portions. The lower screws arecarri-ed by the body portion B and thread into tapped holes 48 in thebody portion C, the upper screws are carried by the body portion C andthread into tapped holes in the body portion B. Refer particularly toFigure 8, showing one of the lower assembling mechanisms in detail whichis carried by the body portion B. The threaded portion extends entirelyforward of the exposed face 34a of the base 34 and a shoulder 49 thereonbears against this face 34a. External the base on the outside theassembling screw is provided with a head 50, which may be in the form ofa nut threaded onto the screw and clamping a ratchet 5l onto the shaftbetween ay shoulder 52 thereon and the head. A spacer 53 between theratchet 5l and the shoulder 52 serves as a thrust bearing against theexternal face 34?) of the base 34 and as ar radial bearing for anoperating lever 54.

Referring now to Figures l, 3 and 4: The lever 54 carries a double endedpawl. 55 pivotedpupon a shaft 56 bearing in the lever 54 and passingtherethrough from front to back. rllhis pawl is provided with operatingends57 and 58 adapted to engage the teeth 59 of the ratchet 51.VIntermediate the ends 57 and 58 al projection 60 upon the pawl isprovided with a pin 6l to which one end of a spring 62 is attached. Inall mesl ing positions of the pawl this pin lies above and at the sideof the center of the shaft 56. A pin 63 is affixed to the lever 54directly beneath the shaft 56, the pins being so located that when theend 57 of the pawl isin contact with the ratchet the spring 62 will lie`on one side of the shaft 56, Yand when the end 58 is in contact with theratchet, it will lie on the other side. This is best illustrated by thedotted lines of Figure 8. In either position therefore the spring y 62will act t'o hold one end of the pawl in contact with the ratchet andalso tend to keep the pawl from throwing over to the other position.

A cable 64 is attached to the outer end of the lever as by a clevis 65,and extends to the operators position. second cable is attached to thelever at this point and lea-ds in the oppositedirection over a returnpulley 67 supported on astud shaft 68, and over an idler pulley 69supported on a stud shaft 70 to the operating' point. Hence byalternately pulling on one cable, then the other, the lever may beoperated back and forth to successively advance the ratchet in adirection depending upon which end of the pawl 55 is in contact with it.

i of the belll crank lever 78.

Operation of' the ratchet: in oneV direction will cause the threadedrends 47 of? thev assembling screws46to enter further intosthe tappedfholes/128, thus drawing: the body kvmember C closer: to the body portion`B. Operatingthe ratchet in the opposite direcof each orf'thesemechanisms F, andthat each is operated in turn in bringing the bodypoi'- tions together or in separating them.

In `order to reverse the direction of" the paWland'hence-of the ratchetto change the movement of the body portions as above mentioned,vthemechanisms Hf are provided. A double ended lever 71 is attached to theVshaft 56 on the side'of the lever 54 opposite that carrying the pawvlv55. A dog 7 2 carrie-d upon a shaft 73 isfarranged to project into thepath of the lever 71 in its motion on the lever 54 about the center of'thescrew 46. Shaft 73 is journalled in'bearings 73a attached" to thebody A. One end of the shaft v 7 3 carries a lever 74 pivotallyconnected to a link-,75 at 76. This link is pivoted toY one endL 77 of abell crank lever`78, oscillating about a pin 7 9' in the body, uponAoperation of the cable 80 attached-to the other end 81 This cable alsoextends backv to the operator. A spring 82 vattached to the bell cranklever end 8l and t'o the body serves to return the mechanism H tonon-operative position against-a stop 83. Y i

Operation of thefreversingmechanism is as 4follows: The cable'SOispulledA throwing- `the dog 72 iuto the path ol the lever 7lA (see Fig.4), the lever54'havingbeen previ- Aously brought' approximately toacentral position. AUpon the next; movement ofthe lever in the`direct-ion indicated by the arrow Z the lever 71 will' Contact with thedog 72 and Will be rotated in the direction of thcr As the spring 62lpasses the shaft' arrow. Y center it will suddenly snap therest ofthewaxY over throwing the operating end 585i the lpaWl 55 against theratchet 5l. Similarly' for reversing again, throwing .the'dog again inthe path of they lever 7l, it will this time Contact Withthe oppositeend of the leverv 7l, and'upon movementof the lever 54 in adirectionVreverse to thearrow Z, the lever 7l lwill' .p be moved in a reversedirection to that indivcated by arrowA Y, and the operating end 57' vofthe pavvl-y 55 ratchet' 5'1.

The clamping mechanisms G comprise a. bolt 84 carried in one of the.body portions andlhaving athreaded end 85 adapted-to engage the threadsof atappcd hole 86 in the other body portion. As illustratedin Figure11, the bolt iscarried-in the body portionB, passingfthrougha'bore 87inthe basei-' and the tapped'hole 86 is in the. base of the body portionC. Immediately behind'the threaded end- 85 the body of the bolt 84 isreduced in Will againV Contact with the diameter, as at 88, to clear ashort threaded:v

portion 87avofj the bore 87. The other endl of the bolt 84 is providedlwith a head 89,v

and' this end of the bolt body providefl;

With a keyvvay 90 for sliding engagement with a key 91 carried by a`ratchet 92. This ratchet 92 is otherwise similar to the rato-hete 511,and-'is operated-bya pand-55, with reversingflever 7l, andfmounted.vupon a lever 93, in identically the same manner as previouslydescribed'in connection with the means F. rEhe lever931is pivotedVdirectly upouthe bolt! 84 betweenv the ratchet 92 and the base 34'. Abracket 94 attached to the-body portion Bl serves to take theclamping*pressure yas thethreaded end 85 is rotated intothe tapped hole86. Gables 64 andg (i6-Withv pulleys @Tand 69V are likewise provided/foroperating the -levers 93;v4 f Y' Normally when the body is extended, thebolt 84 is in the-dotted position of Fig. ll, with 'the threaded end 85engaging vthe threaded portion 87a and totally out of contactwiththe--thradsof the tapped hole 86.

After the mechanismsF have been operated to assemble the body portionsand bring them into close-contact, the cables`64 and 'controlling the`lever 93 are operated alternately to rotate the bolt-84.l Rotation of`the bolt in onedirection Willjcause it to travel towardV the VoppositevVbody portion. lnasmuch as, in i assembly, the body portions areaccurately guided by the tongue 45 and the walls 'of the recess 44, asthe bolt 84travels longitudinally it will enter the-tapped hole 86.Continued rotation will efiectl further travel untilltlie threadedportion 85leaves Contact with the threads :of VtheV tapped portion 88and the head 89-comes into Contact with the bracket 94, vclampingtheforward ends of the body portions together. Itfwillbe seen that i'hebolts 84, one of' which is carried by thebody portion, Bia-nd the otherby body portion C, i:

do not project'into the gap l meen the b portions inthe lextended p. onof the bc u and hence form noyobsnuction tothe placing of the'deviceover the Well or Well casing.

The means E comprisesthe Apinion 30 in l mesh With the rack 29 andmounted upon a ilD shaft 95 extending through the Wall Q2 of i thebodyportion C. Gutside the Wall 22 is mounted ajratchet 96, which may beoperated by a pawl 97, pivoted uponY a-lever 98 and t held inv Contactwith the ratchet by a spring 97a. The lever 98 is lreely pivoted uponthe shaft 95 and attached to it at 99 are cables 100 and 101. The cable100 extends directly back to the operator. Cable 101 lirst passes arounda reversing sheave 102 and then back to the operator, so that alternatepulling ot cables 100 and 101 will cause alternate movements of thelever 98 in opposite directions, to rotate the pinion 30. A housing 108may be provided for the exposed parts of this mechanism and the cablesmay be led through a conduit 104 for as great a distance as may bedesired to provide free operation of the closure mechanism after thedevice has been cemented in or weighted down. Clicl 90a prevents ratchetreversal.

The protecting means l comprises shields 105 which may be covered on thetop tace with a heatinsulating material 106, such as asbestos, or thelike, and which are supported upon brackets 107 attached to the bodyportions B and C. These shields extend aslant upwardly and outwardlyprotecting the operating mechanisms and the associated parts from theheat and dbris or oil. Through the base of these shields may run aconduit 108 having openings 109 therein directed toward any particularportion of the device which it may be especially desired to cool. Asshown in the dra fings, these openings are directed toward the closuremember D. Through a flexible hose 110 steam or water may be directedthrough this conduit and onto the device to effect direct cooling.

For diverting the gas or oil flow upon closure ol the openings 25 and39, an opening is provider in the side wall 22 at 111 into which i sthreaded a pipe 112. The free end of this' pipe connected through aflexible joint 113 to a 1flexible pipe 11sL through which the flow maybedirected to any desired point. A valve 115 is connected within the pipe112 by means ot which the llow may be controlled as desired.

This device is lirst moved into place in an extended condition asillustrated in Figure 2, the oj'icrating cables 64, 66, 101 and 102being unreeled from appropriate reels (not shown) at the operatingposition, and suitable connections madeto extendthe pipe 114, the hoses110. and conduit 1011 as the place-ment prg'esses. Cables 116 attachedto eye-bolts 11T placed at various points on the body A are provided torthis purpose, although other me: ns ma'4 be used Jfor positioning,dependin u non the particular conditions at the well. The device is soguided by the variation of pri" hng on the several cables that theforward ends ot the separated body pass on either side oi the well it isdesired to cap. Then it appears to be approximately in position, thebles G-l and 66 controlling the assembly mechanisms F are operated asdescribed, bringing the body portionsB and C together above the well andenclosing the portion of the well casing 118 which projects above theground. lVhen the body portions have been tightly assembled, theclamping means G are operated by the cables 64 and 66 connectedtherewith to clamp the forward portions of the body together. The wellmay continue to discharge undisturbed through the opening formed byopenings 25 and 39. The distance l etween the base and top of thecapping device is such that the top of the well Casing will beconsiderably below the top of the device.

lt necessary, then, suitable bulwarks may be built up around the deviceand concrete or other weighting material pumped or placed around it tohold it down. The outstanding iiange 119 formed around the device by theprojecting bases and 34, serves to hold the device from being blownthrough the weighting material. After such material has been placed inposition, and in the case of concrete, after it has set, the cables 101and 102 controlling the closure mechanism are operated, moving the plateacross the top opening formed by the openings and 39. The plate will atthis time be supported in bothV slideways, 2G and 39. It the valve 115be open at the time this closure is effected, the capping device willonly be subjected to the pressure necessary to divert` the flow.

Holes are provided through the top of the body as at 120 and tappedholes 121 in the top of the plate 28 align with them when the plate 28is in the closed position. Cap screws 122 passed through the holes 120and threaded into the holes 121 draw the plate 28 tightly up against thetop of the body locking the closure member in position and 4etlecting atight seal. v

The faces of the end walls 21 and may be sloped as at 21a and 35arespectivelyto facilitate placement of the device around projectingcasing or fittings. The central chamber a formed within the body inassembled position may be large enough to accommodate any fittings whichmay already be attached to the casing.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent:

1. A valve of the characterdisclosed including a body comprisingseparable body portions, said body being provided with an opening, aclosure member for such opening, operating means for said closuremember, and assembling devices connecting the body portions, incombination with a guiding member associated with one of the bodyportions and vadapted to coact with another of the body portions.

2. A valve of the character disclosed including a body comprisingseparable body portions, said body being provided with an opening, aclosure member for such opening, operating means for saidclosure memisaammo? ber, and assembling devices connecting the body portions, incombination with means for reversing the operation of said assemblingdevices to effect separation of the body portions.

3. A valve including relatively movable body portions, forming a body,such body having an opening in the base thereof, theJ walls of suchopening being formed by portions of each of said body portions, meansfor holding said body portions in spaced relation, and means associatedwith said holding means for moving said body portions relative to eachother.

4. A valve including relatively movable body portions forming a bodyhaving a passage therethru, means for closing such passage, and meansfor moving said body portions to effect an end opening therebetween,communicating with such passage a junction of said body portions beingiii the wall of such passage.

5. A valve including relatively movable body portions forming a bodyhaving a passage theretliru, a junction of said body portions being in awall of such passage and extending throughout the length thereof, aclosure member for such passage, operating means for said closure memberand assembling devices adapted to hold said body portions in spacedrelation whereby such passage may be opened throughout the lengththereof.

6. A valve including relatively movable body portions forming a bodyhaving a chamber therein and opposed openings com municating with suchchamber, assemblingl devices connecting said body portions and adaptedto hold them in spaced relation, said assembling devices being rotatablymounted and fixed against longitudinal movement in one of said bodyportions, and means associated therewith for cooperatively engaging theother body portion, and a closure niember for one of such openings.

7. A valve including relatively movable body portions forming a bodyhaving a passage theret-hru, means for closing such passage, and assembldevices connecting said body portions, said assembling devices includingassembling screws journalled in one of said body portions and tixedagainst longitudinal movement therein, a threaded portion on said screwsfor cooperative engagement with another body portion, and means forrotating said screws.

8. A valve as described in claim 7 wherein said rotating means includesa ratchet, a pawl operatively connected therewith, and

means for operating said pawl to rotate the e ratchet. a y

9. A valve as described in claim 7 wherein said rotating means includesa ratchet, a

- pawl operatively connected therewith, a lever carrying said pawl andpull wires con- IlCGed-tosaid leveriwhereby saidy ratchet .may

be rotated.

lO. A-yalve of .-the character disclosed including a zbodypomprisingseparable 'body portions,jsaid body `bein provided with an opening, aclosure -memer Jfor such opening,voperating means for said closuremember,

and-assembling .devices connecting the body postionsfin combination`with clamping devices carried oney o-f'said body portions landadapt-,edftoibegprojected therefrom to engage another, of said fbodyportions, and .means .-fei' projecting said i clamping devices.

1.1'. A valveincluding relatively movable "body .portions yformingfabodyhaving aapassage therethru, means toiclosing such .passage, said'bodypoitions `beingprovided with guideways `for the support of saidclosing means,and f additional supporting `means associated 'with `oneofy said body .portions Wliereby vsaid closing means is entirelysupported yby one of said bodyportions, in combination with assemblingmechanisms conneet-ing said bodyvportions.v 12. A valve ginclud'ngtrelatively movable .body portions forming a ,bodyA having a passagetherethr-u, lmeans for Vclosing-such .passage, said bodylportions being,providedwith guideways for the support of said closing -means,andadditional supporting means asspeiatedA with `one of said bodyVportions wherebysaid closing means is entirely .sup-

portedby `one of ksaid body portions, in combination with. means forlguiding the body 4portions relative f to eachother.

413. AA valve comprising a bodyhaving a i passage therethru, `said `bodyincluding .relatively movablebody portions, the joiiitthereof Abeinginthe Cwalls of said passage, means for holding saidportionsin spacedrelation ,to eect-.an end openingtherebetween communicating withsuclipassagemea1is ioroperating sa'rdllioldingmeans to clamp said bodyportions around afwell casing, a. closure inember ada ted to close suchassave one of said body portions being provided with a side outlet forthe diversion oi' How.

14. A valve including relatively movable body portions forming a bodyhaving a passage theretliru, means for closing such passage, means forholding said body portions in spaced relation, operating means connectedwith said holding means whereby said body portions may be clampedtogether, and additional clamping means guided in one of said bodyportions and adapted to coact with the other body portion after saidbody portions have been clamped togetherwith said holding means.

15. A valve as described in claim 7 including a guiding tongueconnecting said body portions whereby said screws are relieved from sidestresses.

16. A valve including relatively movable body portions forming a bodyhaving a passage therethru, means for closing such passage and assemblydevices connecting said body portions, said assembly devices includingassembling screws associated with one ot said body portions androtatable therein and adapted to coact with the other body portion toclamp said portions together, and means for rotating said screws, andmeans connected with said rotating means for effecting reversal ofrotation 4ot said screws.

17. A valve as described in claim 16 in which said rotating meanscomprises a ratchet connected to said screws, and a pawl mounted foroscillation on one ot' said body portions.

18. A valve as described in claim 16 in which said rotating meanscomprises a reversible ratchet connected to said screws and a reversiblepawl mounted for oscillation on one of said body portions and means foret'- 'fecting reversal of rotation of said screws including means forreversing said pawl.

19. A valvevas described in claim 5 wherein the operating means for theclosure member includes a rotatable member coacting with such closuremember to eect operation thereof, a ratchet on said rotatable member,and an oscillating pawl associated ywith one of the body portions andoperating means for said pawl.

20. A valve as described in claim 5 wherein the operating means for theclosure memberv includes a rotatable member coacting with such closuremember to effect operation thereof, a ratchet and pawl mechanismassociated with said rotatable member and with said body portion, andoperating means for said mechanism including pull wires attached theretoin opposed relation, whereby alternate operation of said pull wires willeffect movement of said closure member.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

JOHN WV. HALL.

